Review of Top Gear (Autumn 2007)
It's a kids programme for adults. I've loved it since it was serious and boring. Hate to miss it now
What can you say about Top Gear? Back in the old days, it was for anoraks who loved cars and was presented by men in flat caps. Every car they showed had to have its bonnet opened so you could look and admire the engine bay. But I still loved it.
Now it's a silly bit of nonsense and better for it. Of course Clarkson and Hammond annoy lots of people, that's their job. They admitted on the Top Gear blog that they felt last season had too much silliness and not enough cars. You can see they are trying to redress the balance.
Tonight's episode had the smallest car ever made - the Peel P50 from the Isle of Man in 1962. Absolutely brilliant vehicle with a hilarious piece involving Clarkson driving it around the inside of the BBC building.
The bit with Hammond racing in a Bugatti Veyron against a EuroFighter Typhoon was a pretty standard cookie-cutter routine but impressive all the same.
The convertible Rolls Royce was ok and May presented it well, I just find them terribly boring.
Highlight of the night was the Ronnie Wood interview followed by his lap in a reasonably priced car. What a character, what a life! Clarkson clearly idolised him.
The only major criticism I can make of the show is that they have done nothing to mark the terrible death of Colin McCrae. They appear to have an enormous aversion to rally racing in general but ignoring his tremendous career and ability is an insult and I hope they have just delayed because they are preparing a special piece on him.
Sure they have become formulaic but it's a solid formula. Long may they continue.
Rated /5 on Oct 28 2007 by TV Treats
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